Disney is opening up new memberships to Club 33 - OC Register (May 4)

[S. S. Columbia]

From today’s OC Register (May 4):

http://ocresort.ocregister.com/2012...ns-waiting-list-for-exclusive-club-33/111772/

[size=+2]Disneyland opens up secret restaurant – for a price[/size]

May 4th, 2012, 6:00 am • • posted by Sarah Tully

For the first time in a decade, Disneyland is opening up new memberships to its exclusive Club 33 — the famous, secretive locale tucked inside the park.

Disney also is adding a private lounge for club members at Disney California Adventure.

Starting Friday (today [May 4]), Disney will begin sending embossed invitations to the first 100 people on its 800-name waiting list, asking if they are interested in joining the club. Individual initiation fees cost $25,000 and annual dues are $10,000.

The club hasn’t even taken new names for the list in 10 years, said George Kalogridis, the Disneyland Resort president.

The openings come with new perks. The 1901 private lounge will open June 15 in Disney California Adventure as part of its $1 billion makeover project, Disney confirmed this week. The 1901 name comes from the year that Walt Disney was born.

Also, membership now will include private services, including valet parking and VIP itinerary planning.

Disney is adding new spots and amenities to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the club, which opened in 1967 in New Orleans Square.

Walt Disney was inspired to create the club after seeing the VIP lounges for corporate sponsors at the New York World’s Fair, said Kim Irvine, Disneyland’s art director who headed up a recent renovation of Club 33. Walt Disney wanted to offer a similar feel within Disneyland, spearheading dining rooms and a lounge alley that winds around the top floors of New Orleans Squares buildings. He passed away before the club opened.

Only club members and their guests are allowed behind the door next to a “33″ plaque, marking the address of 33 Royal Street. Club 33 is the only place in Disneyland where alcohol is regularly served.

Disney gave a Register news crew rare access inside Club 33 to announce the new memberships and lounge.

But Disney remains very closed about many aspects of the club: Employees won’t divulge how many members there are. They won’t name any members or guests, including celebrities. And they won’t say how many new members will be added, only noting that all 800 on the list won’t get in.

A 2007 Los Angeles Times story said that the club had less than 500 members. Celebrities who have gone to Club 33 reportedly include Tom Hanks, Michael Jackson, Christina Aguilera and Elton John.

For new members, Disney is starting with 100 invitations. Disney will ask interested parties a series of questions and set up individual meetings with a member-services employee, Kalogridis said. If there are more spots available, more invitations will be sent.

“We don’t even know how many of these we’ll be able to find,” Kalogridis said about the old addresses.

Disney also will start adding names to the list. Interested parties can send an e-mail to club33interest@disneyland.com

The new 1901 lounge space allows Disney to add more members, Kalogridis said.

The lounge sits on the bottom floor of the Carthay Circle Theatre building along the hub of the entrance corridor of California Adventure. The lounge will serve drinks and appetizers, but no full meals. Disney describes it as a den with plaster arches and woodwork, overstuffed leather chairs and a bar with accessories, including some of Walt’s personal art and photos.

Disney raised prices for individual memberships: Annual dues used to be $3,600 annually. Current members are grandfathered in under the previous prices, if they want to keep the former plan, which excludes the new lounge and VIP services.

Corporate initiation fees now are $40,000 and annual dues are $10,000 for executive members, which includes 100 day passes for guests. The cost is $5,000 for affiliate members.

Each individual club member gets four annual passes that are valid at both California and Florida Disney parks, as well as 50 day passes that can be given to guests. Before, each member got two annual passes and an unlimited number of guest passes, a perk that changed in January. Some fans grumbled on websites and chat boards about the changes.

The new services include itinerary planning, valet parking, VIP tours and exclusive opportunities, such as a sneak peek at Cars Land.

With the itinerary planning, members can call a special number and have an employee set up a customized visit, like a four-hour morning with two mothers and two toddlers to go on kids’ rides or a night out with adults that includes a sit-down dinner and “World of Color” viewing. Fastpasses would be given on rides that offer them.

“If you are coming to the resort, it’s a great deal,” Kalogridis said.

- OC Register (May 4)

Click on the link, there’s also a short video.